2025 Hostplus SANFLW Season Nine Launch

By ZAC MILBANK

Season nine of the Hostplus SANFL Women’s League is set to come alive this weekend after South Australia’s premier female state league was launched at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

Boasting a bumper 14-round home-and-away fixture in 2025, the Hostplus SANFLW League season continues to stretch, with the Grand Final scheduled for the weekend of Saturday July 26 – the competition’s latest finish since its 2017 inception.

This will ensure a host of blockbuster matches will be showcased alongside Hostplus SANFL League games for flagship fixtures such as Good Friday, Anzac Day and the King’s Birthday.

And after last year’s historic inaugural Women’s State game between SANFLW and WAFLW was won by the Croweaters, they will have the chance to line up in the cherished red guernsey twice in 2025.

For the first time, SANFLW will host the VFLW in the inaugural AAMI Women’s State Game clash, to be played under lights on Friday April 11 at Alberton Oval as part of the AFL’s Gather Round festival of footy.

To be coached again by highly-respected mentor Courtney Cramey, the SANFLW will then roll out the welcome mat for the WAFLW on the weekend of Saturday May 3, to be played at Adelaide oval as a curtain raiser to the Adelaide versus Carlton AFL game.

”We’re thrilled to host both the VFLW and WAFLW in the same season after such a successful introduction to women’s State League clashes last year,” SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said.

“This is a huge boost for our best performing players in the SANFLW, and generally for the growth of women’s football in South Australia, with the opportunity to showcase out best elite talent on the national stage.”

South Australia’s success at the 2024 AFL U16 National Championships, coupled with as many as 10 SANFLW stars having their names called at last year’s AFLW Draft, illustrates the supreme depth of talented players showcasing their skills weekly in the Hostplus SANFLW League.

“On the back of SA’s back-to-back U16s AFL Girls National Championship wins over the past two years, and the growing depth of youth talent in this State, there is an exciting crop of emerging stars, combined with mature age talent across all eight SANFL Clubs,” Mr Chandler said.

‘’Season 2025 will also be etched in history when a salary cap will be introduced in a watershed event for South Australian women’s football, ensuring our female players are rewarded for their time and contribution to our game.’’

Several of SA’s U16 All-Australians in 2024 are poised to set the competition alight in 2025, with West Adelaide’s Emily Mableson, South Adelaide’s Emma Charlton, Glenelg’s Georgie Fielder and North Adelaide’s Polly Turner leading the charge.

The Hostplus SANFLW League kicks off on Saturday, with South Adelaide beginning its premiership defence with a Grand Final rematch against Norwood at the newly-named Magain Stadium from 6pm.

Woodville-West Torrens will start its quest to play in the major round by hosting Sturt at Eastern Parade Reserve from 10.30am, the first of three matches in succession at the Eagles’ pristine home venue.

On Sunday, two new SANFLW coaches will kickstart their careers on foreign soil when North Adelaide’s Kelly Barltrop travels with her Roosters to face West Adelaide while Glenelg’s Talia Radan heads north to confront Central District at X Convenience Oval.

Ticket prices have been frozen at $10 for adults and $5 for concession for standalone Hostplus SANFL Women’s League matches this year, under-18s are still admitted for free.

All matches will be streamed live and on-demand on SANFL Now. For more details and to subscribe visit sanflnow.com.au

Saturday, March 15

Woodville-West Torrens v Sturt | Eastern Parade Reserve (Ottoway)| 10:30am

South Adelaide v Norwood | Magain Stadium | 6pm

Sunday, March 16

Central District v Glenelg | X Convenience Oval | 12pm

West Adelaide v North Adelaide| Hisense Stadium | 1:30pm